Salmon season in full swing on Chetco, Smith rivers (Nov. 14, 2015)

The peak of the fall salmon season on the Chetco and Smith rivers has arrived, with the best fishing right now on the Chetco out of Brookings, Oregon. There are good numbers of salmon in both rivers, but for the most part, low, clear water has hampered fishing at times. It is now raining on the coast, and we are expecting both rivers to be in prime shape next week. This is the best time of year to catch salmon from drift boats on the Chetco and Smith.
On the Chetco, we have been catching salmon on plugs, fishing salmon eggs below bobbers, and back-bouncing salmon eggs. There are nice fish spread throughout the river.
With the rain we will be focusing on the Elk and Sixes, as well as continuing to fish the Chetco.
There have been a few adult winter steelhead already caught on the Chetco, and there should be more after this weekend's rain. I still have some prime dates left in January and February for steelhead fishing.
We will begin our lingcod and bottom fishing trips in March.
Here are some of the salmon pics from the past couple of weeks on the Chetco and Smith.
- Andy Martin
www.wildriversfishing.com and www.brookingsfishing.com
(541) 813-1082 or (206) 388-8988 cell

Rain arrives, salmon in Chetco and Smith (Oct. 25, 2015)

Rain is falling today on the Southern Oregon and Northern California coast, and the Chetco and Smith rivers are slowly rising, Both are still very low, but there are big numbers of salmon in the lower sections of both rivers.
We caught salmon last week in the tidewater sections of both rivers, either trolling herring, or floating salmon roe and sand shrimp below bobbers.
The Smith River is still closed below Rowdy Creek and flows need to surpass 600 cfs for the river to open. They are around 270 cfs this morning. The Chetco is around 110 cfs.
Until we get enough rain for an upstream opener on the Smith, we will be bobber fishing the lower section of the Chetco. The rain will help make the fish more active and bring in some fresh, bright fish.
Prime time for the drift boat season on the Chetco River, Smith River, Elk River and Sixes River is rapidly approaching. I have several local guides available for the peak season. This is when we see some of our biggest salmon of the year.
To book a trip, call (541) 813-1082 or visit www.wildriversfishing.com,
Below is one of the nice salmon we caught last week on the lower Chetco River.
- Andy Martin
www.brookingsfishing.com
www.wildriversfishing.com
(541) 813-1082
(206) 388-8988 cell

A 25-pound kings caught on the lower Chetco River last week on a plug-cut herring with guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing and Brookings Fishing.